Power, Decisions and Struggle

After reading the assigned chapters for tonight's class, I'm left feeling like I want to become a yogi on a deserted island and live off the land like my ancestors did many, many years ago. In general, I do believe that humans are born "good". We do the best we can with what we have and some of us try to include others in our way of thinking and living. I think (hope) that everyone will agree that Hitler's actions against the Jews was unforgivable. But what was Hitler thinking when he started the nazi movement? Did he really think it was best for his people? Were his decisions made out of desperation to gain and maintain stability? For some Germans, it was a good move, but can casting hatred on anyone ever result in long-term stability? How often do we think of long-term stability versus getting through the immediate crisis.

Throughout this class, we have read about people trying to gain power, losing it and then trying to recover. It has happened everywhere. So why do we continue to use the same methods to create stability? I'm beginning to feel as though government is not the answer, but then what is? Taking a step back, we clearly do not evaluate the real repercussions of our actions but perhaps, some people just don't care. 

There needs to be healing. I can't move past the fact that we are all human beings and that so much suffering is inflicted upon us. Some intentional, some not. But it is tough. We are all trying to survive. I'm currently angry with the decisions those in power make, but when I was driving to work this morning and rolled up my window so that the scary man on the corner wouldn't ask me for money. I ignored his basic human needs for food and shelter. I justify not helping him because I work at a food bank where I work to make sure everyone who needs a meal can have one, but in this one to one situation, I was in power and chose not to help him. Was it to inconvenient? Was I afraid? Did I just not want to be bothered?

Communism, fascism, socialism, democracy - they were all created because someone thought it would best suit the needs of the people at the time. In theory, some of them sound like great solutions, but in practice, well, not so much. 

The more aggressive solutions seem to always e the answer although we have the Ghandis, the Madelas and Martin Luther Kings of the world. Perhaps the answer is a spiritual one, not a governmental one. I wonder how things would be if Buddha or Jesus were alive today. Would they have the same impact? Would people listen? I'd like to say I would, but Id din't helpt he man on the corner today, so I don't know and that frightens me.